Modesty

While doing some recent research on Modesty, I was shown a chart about how many times the word Modesty was mentioned in our cultures history…While I sat and looked so boggled at this chart, I seen that Modesty was highest in the 1800’s and the amount continued to drop each half-century, till I seen the 2010 report and it was just a hair-line away from reaching zero. In that moment, I knew deep down, I wanted to do something to change that chart for the better, and I wasn’t about to do it alone…My Heart, is so full of desires to making an appreciation of Modesty known in History, by our Generation, once again. I believe together, we can make this happen. 

“As a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on the earth.” Ephesians 1:10 

Every single day of our entire lives, we are being force fed with messages about how women and girls 'should be.' 

The World tells us all that women are and should be 'sexy.'

It is in the Television shows, the movies we watch, the music that is played, the magazines we quickly flip through while waiting in line at the cash, it's even in the billboards we drive by. 

The world tells us that the ideal woman is to be hot, sexy, and sassy. Women of all ages these days, judge their popularity successes, by the attention they get from the opposite sex. 

From the miniskirts, the too tight skinny jeans, flimsy blouses, and very low revealing V-neck t-shirts...The shorter the skirt, the tighter the blouse, the better it seems these days unfortunately. 

The lie that is so often spoken is...

"If you dress sexy and engage in sexual behavior, the more popular you are in the social scheme." It definitely is, each woman for themselves, in this case it's..."Survival of the prettiest." 

However, I know for certain this is NOT what God wants His dear precious Daughter's to be acting like. Your worth, but most of all your value, is not based on your body image, nor being 'sexy.' 

As the Church ‘Modesty’ sermon typically goes…Women are to cover their bodies as a mark of their own personal spiritual integrity. Too much skin is seen as a distraction that accumulates inappropriate attention, and causes our Christian brothers to stumble, and it overshadows our character. Therefore, the female body is then recognized as both a sexual temptation and complete provoking distraction in our Christian communities. 

The female body is excellently made, but in a dangerous way. This approach on modesty treats women's bodies not as glorious reflections of the image of God, but as sources of temptation that must be hidden… At all times. 

With the ridiculous culture we live in, the female body is more often than less thought of, as a sex-object, more than a beautiful creation. Which the Lord intended women to be thought of as precious gems, and not simply, dirty pieces of trash on the curb, just waiting to be picked up. 

Something that has been also definitely happening in our culture is that Women's identities are also strangely tied to their bodies in a manner that men's identities are not. With that being said, Modesty has been so often preached in a manner that does not celebrate the creation of the female body, but rather horribly condemns it. This is not the case for all, but I stand knowing it is the case for some. 

I truly believe that we are living in a day and age that we need to be talking about Modesty in a manner that celebrates the female body without objectifying women, and still continues to encourage women to strive to live a life of complete purity. 

The obsession with how our bodies, is becoming more and more of a rapid issue. We use the worldly articles to gain value and some sort of feeling of acceptance. We have learned to make idols of only ourselves, but what can I say…that’s what we have been portrayed, to do by today’s media. 

A total realignment and massive shift of ourselves with God's values is very much needed in our broken generation to see the change we are wanting to see, "But How?" You may ask. 

In the Bible it says..."God is more concerned with our heart and character, more than our bodies or our clothes." 

Our identity as Christians lies in only Christ and never in our outward appearances. Women are more than just "bodies", but of course you wouldn't know that if you were to just look at the media of today or to hear that typical modesty sermon preached.  

Although, our media and culture is screaming so many different lies about us women, the Bible often teaches us quite clearly on Modesty, sexuality and purity. 

Ephesians 5:3 says...

"But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immortality." 

That 'hint' includes both our actions, and our appearance. 

God truly calls each of us Women, to a life of purity and a life of true Modesty. 

Speaking of our Actions...

Ladies, we seriously need to get real about the effect our bodies, actions, and our words have on the men around us. This is said in a way that is loving, not a condemning way. Because truly, some of you have absolutely no clue what your Body is capable of doing to the men’s minds around you. Again, He is not to blame….the enemy has such a tight strong-hold on men, it’s hard to even comprehend the constant plaguing torment, they go through on a daily basis. 

Given the current state of our World, 

The question that is frequently 

asked is... "Does modesty even matter anymore??" 

Our culture. Of course, tells us No. 

I personally was asked this question by a desperate Christian young-woman who shall be nameless…This was her irritated statement to me. 

“Does my Modesty even matter anymore? With the way that the women EVEN in the Church are dressing…what am I even doing this for?!? What is the point Kerrington??” 

With that split second of waiting to respond, The Lord’s tender voice without fail…was speaking to me, to then speak into her Life. I said: 

“If not for the people we dress modestly, but truly, for our dear Heavenly Father who is looking down with such proudness of His precious gem of a Daughter. The Lord will reward you, of your faithfulness. 

Although, it may feel like you are alone in this strive to be modest…He sees that and He is blessed by your ways. Never give up on Modesty! You may not get the quick fixated attention of a young-man because your chest is hidden, but in the long-run your reward will be eternal bliss, within the bounds of your sacred marriage one day. You got this girl!” 

…We, even as Christian Women have been so distracted by the worlds views, that sometimes we don't even stop to think about what our appearance says about us, or how it measures up to God's standards. 

Many of us, are even still so blinded to the fact that the way we dress, will also impact the kind of man that we will attract. Ultimately, the kind of man we want to attract, is also committed to his personal sexual purity. 

You still may sometimes receive some unwanted attention from men 

around us. The attacks from the enemy, on these men are so vivid and real, it's often hard for them to keep pure thoughts with all of the garbage, that our world is constantly promoting and force feeding to them daily. 

I've heard girls time, after time argue that it is our personal 'right' to wear what we want to wear. It is all the boys’ fault, for thinking such 'horrible' things. This Ladies, is 100% NOT Christ-like, at all. When we dress 'sexy' and revealing this isn't helping and uplifting our brothers. These are men fighting against the temptations and fiery-attacks of this world, just as we are...Just in a different form. 

Furthermore, we need to show 

Christ-like love and respect to the men around us, at ALL times...

Not just at youth group and church! We need to lay down our lives 

(And our so-called rights) to love others and continue to encourage each other to follow God with a passionate heart.

"Modesty is not just something

you wear, it is part of your character."

Until Next Time,

~Kerrington